[slightly half-assed] Preview of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge - "For ****'s sake, can we just win this thing?"
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 2:43 PM EST
Email
PrintThe Challenge usually leaves Big Ten fans shell shocked and talking to themselves.
Like this:
It was one thing when they lost the first five. "At least it's in single digits". Then it got to 0-10. Yeah.
Let's review. I'll offer the disclaimer that I'm fairly new to this "basketball" thing.
Schedule:
Game #1:
Monday, 11/30, 7:00PM: Penn State @ Virginia (ESPN2)
Ehh. Predicted winner: Virginia
Game #2:
Tuesday, 12/1, 7:00PM: Wake Forest @ Purdue (ESPN)
Wake loses their leading scorers from last year (Jeff Teague and James Johnson), but the Deacons return budding talented (but developing) sophomore Al-Farouq Aminu. Chas MacFarland gives Wake good size up front, but the Deacons are still young. Meanwhile, Purdue reloads for the third year in a row with JaJuan Johnson, Robbie Hummel, Etwaun Moore and Chris Kramer all returning. The Boilermakers have the edge in depth and experience. Predicted winner: Purdue
Game #3:
Tuesday, 12/1, 7:00PM: Northwestern @ N.C. State (ESPNU)
Northwestern is supposed to be good. Some experts have them in the tournament. Did I mention that Kevin Coble is injured and out for the year? The only preview of N.C. State I could find was a Bleacher Report article. Predicted winner: N.C. State
Game #4:
Tuesday, 12/1, 7:30PM: Maryland @ Indiana (ESPN2)
So what does Indiana do when they have their worst season ever? Only sign a great recruiting class. Maryland still has that trash talking Venezuelan guard and some other guys (Gary Williams is finally recruiting to the standard UM fans want), so I guess they can't be too bad. Still, I'll be stupid and go with my hunch. Predicted winner: Indiana
Game #5:
Tuesday, 12/1, 9:00PM: Michigan State @ North Carolina (ESPN)
North Carolina loses Lawson, Hansbrough, Ellington, and Green. Only Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard return. Along with (SHOCK!) a great recruiting class. Michigan State, on paper at least, is more experienced and maybe more talented than UNC, but the Heels are solid on their front line. I'm really not sure what to expect, but UNC is young, and Izzo will get his revenge. Predicted winner: Michigan State
Game #6:
Tuesday, 12/1, 9:30PM: Virginia Tech @ Iowa (ESPN2)
This does not require a preview. I watched both of Iowa's first two games (partly due to boredom, partly due to loving the sarcastic humor in the open threads on BHGP), and it is quite possible that Kirk Ferentz's football team will win more games than Todd Lickliter's basketball team. Predicted winner: Virginia Tech
Game #7:
Wednesday, 12/2, 7:15PM: Illinois @ Clemson (ESPN)
Illini fans are excited because they finally, finally!, signed Mr. Illinois Basketball. This time, it's swingman Brandon Paul. Illinois is a mixed team, with experience on the front line, but young (talented) players at the guard spots. Good depth as well. Maybe a middle Big Ten team (if the conference is as good as predicted), but they should be in the NCAAs. Dick Vitale says both Illinois and Clemson will surprise people. I don't feel like writing about Clemson, so go here if you care. Predicted winner: Clemson
Game #8:
Wednesday, 12/2, 7:15PM: Minnesota @ Miami (ESPNU)
Minnesota returns most of their guys. Miami rode outside shooter Jack McClinton and another guy (can't recall his name) to the tourneys, and now they're very, very young. I think Minnesota may surprise some people this year. Predicted winner: Minnesota
Game #9:
Wednesday, 12/2, 7:30PM: Boston College @ Michigan (ESPN2)
After Michigan wins, go to MGOBLOG and watch as some guy writes a "Is Michigan a basketball school?" diary and gets "negbombed" [to have his "points total" lowered by so much that he can't post diaries] by other members into submission. Seriously, though, it is funny to watch them ignore their football team with talk of the greatness of John Beilein. Not that I can blame them, I guess. Predicted winner: Michigan
Game #10:
Wednesday, 12/2, 9:15PM: Duke @ Wisconsin (ESPN)
Wisconsin loses key players, doesn't replace them with blue chippers. Duke loses key players, replaces them with blue chippers and then some. Ho hum. Predicted winner: Duke
Game #11:
Wednesday, 12/2, 9:30PM: Florida State @ Ohio State (ESPN2)
Florida State was decent last year, but Toney Douglas, who led all other scorers by more than 10 PPG, is gone. I actually had a hard time finding anything about FSU, so go here (yes, that place) for more. Ohio State is interesting in that they have no freshman (to make room for more Matta one-and-dones blue chippers). Evan Turner is now trying to go all Magic Johnson as the starting PG. Outside threat Jon Diebler starts at 2-guard, David Lighty starts at SF. The talented Dallas Lauderdale may be out with a foot injury (I'm really not sure), leaving "Zisis Sarikopoulous" to start at center (sadly, he'll probably be better than most Penn State Europeans). They tried him against UNC and he sucked. Ohio State has good depth and experience, and Matta may be able to choose a lot of playing styles. I can't believe I spent this much time on Ohio State. Predicted winner: Ohio State
Final prediction: 6-5 Big Ten.
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Comments
ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Basketball in November? I wouldn’t care if went to North Carolina. Wake me up in January.
I say let's rock the Orange Bowl, because nobody will remember in five years anyway.
Suck it
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
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It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
But Vitale's right
They start this stuff too early.
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
-
It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
WE WON!!!
A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.
Bill Cosby
No
No we haven’t.
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
-
It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
Actually a pretty good analysis
I pretty much agree down the board with the exception of the IU and (unfortunately) PSU games. I think IU was swept out of a tourney this weekend, and I’m not sure if I’m confident for PSU vs UVA after our tourney performance. I say 7-4 ACC.
Agreed
but also think MSU vs. UNC and Northwestern vs.N.C. State could easily go either way, and will fall the in favor of the Big Ten. Maybe Illinois vs. Clemson too. It should be a pretty close year.
by PSUisMyHeart on Nov 23, 2009 3:44 PM EST up reply actions
I can't make up my mind about MSU
I feel it’s about 50-50, so I went with the home court team.
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
-
It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah that MSU-UNC game is one that I'm not sure about here as well
I’m a Carolina fan, and having watched the game against Syracuse, I still think they are going through a transition process so this would be a good time to play them. (They also have to play Kentucky and Texas in the next few weeks so definitely not an easy OOC stretch.) By the end of January they will be a solid team. I think Lucas will give the inexperience of UNC’s guards trouble and that is how they would win the game. That game is close to a toss-up.
by mundyscorner99 on Nov 23, 2009 4:05 PM EST up reply actions
You're a Carolina fan?
Oh boy. We can’t be friends.
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
-
It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 4:10 PM EST up reply actions
I guess it evens out if you hate Duke
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
-
It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah I think we can find some common ground there
I definitely hate Duke. Not as much as Pitt football but close. I’ve always been a UNC hoops fan first but definitely root for PSU. There’s really not too often that it becomes an issue since they don’t play each other. When they met in the tourney back in 2001 was a tough game to watch for me.
by mundyscorner99 on Nov 23, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
So,
you like UNC Basketball more than PSU football, but hate Pitt football more than Duke basketball?? iiiinteeeeresting
by PSUisMyHeart on Nov 23, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
Too hard to choose
between PSU football and UNC basketball for me. Pretty much even, although if I had to pick between PSU football or UNC hoops to win the title it would be PSU football, whatever that is worth.
by mundyscorner99 on Nov 23, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I'm not confident in my choices at all really
I just have a feeling UNC might not be that good yet since they’re pretty young. They did just lose by a large margin to Syracuse (Damn you mundyscorner for getting in your post first)
MSU and UNC already have a common opponent actually. Valparaiso, UNC won by 11, MSU won by 30.
by PSUisMyHeart on Nov 23, 2009 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, screw it
I have nothing against editing my post
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
-
It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 4:10 PM EST up reply actions
We're not beating UVA
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
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It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions
Not unless we improve a ton, or the rock was a bigger factor than we thought (doubt both of those)
and feel free to blame me if it turns out you were right before with UNC winning.
by PSUisMyHeart on Nov 23, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions
About Iowa...
They’re currently tied with #3 Texas after making a beyond half court shot before halftime.
So yeah.
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
-
It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 10:59 PM EST reply actions
This doesn't deserve it's own fan post so I'll just post it here
but Iowa is destroying Texas at the half, 38-38. That counts as destroying in this situation right?
Texas is preparing for the blowout
Iowa has scored 3(!) points in about 5 minutes
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
-
It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 23, 2009 11:26 PM EST up reply actions
The second half was disappointing
even though I never really expected them to keep it up. Even though I’m a semi-UT fan, I enjoy the mayhem caused by crazy upsets more. But the end of the first half was awesome, one of my favorite over half court shots ever just because Iowa keeping up with Texas was laughably funny.
by PSUisMyHeart on Nov 24, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions
As good as they are defensively, when Wisconsin can beat just about anyone when their shooting well.
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
-
It doesn't matter if you "won't remember them" years from now because we'll probably all be dead years from now.
by ReadingRambler on Nov 24, 2009 8:39 AM EST up reply actions
Realist!
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
by ReadingRambler on Nov 24, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
About Iowa...
They just lost by 17 to a seemingly mediocre Wichita State team.
So yeah.
"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."
by ReadingRambler on Nov 24, 2009 10:33 PM EST reply actions
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